Phil Bredesen on Immigration

Democratic TN Governor

Deporting DREAMers would be un-American

Q: Support DACA, allowing "Dreamers" who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?

Marsha Blackburn (R): No. Deal with compassionately but DACA "offered the false hope of amnesty that
led to a surge of illegal immigration."

Phil Bredesen (D): Yes. "Deporting them back to a country that's not theirs and they don't know would be a terrible un-American kind of thing to do."

Q: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million
illegal immigrants?

Marsha Blackburn (R): "No amnesty. We cannot have individuals get in the queue before others who have been going through the legal immigration process. Period."

Phil Bredesen (D): Maybe. "Need to control
borders," but if "willing to learn English and pay their taxes and not have convictions for serious crimes. some sort of a path to become permanent residents and possibly citizens."

Develop sensible, uniform national policies for immigration

Working with the federal government to address illegal immigration: Illegal immigration is a national issue that requires a coordinated national response. I’m working with Democrats and Republicans in the National Governors
Association to encourage and support the federal government in its efforts to develop sensible, uniform national policies for addressing this issue.

Operation Jump Start: support border patrol effort in Texas

Governor Phil Bredesen today announced Tennessee will send national guardsmen and women to lend further support to the "Operation Jump Start" federal border patrol effort. Today's announcement marks Tennessee's deployment to a second Southwestern state
as part of the mission.

Beginning this week, members of the 1-230th Air Cavalry Squadron will deploy to Laredo, Texas, for border patrol duty. Tennessee's soldiers will provide reconnaissance to the U.S. Border Patrol.

"Immigration reform is a
complex and serious issue," Bredesen said. "While this challenge ultimately requires a national, comprehensive solution, it falls to state and local governments to step in and fill the void left by the federal government. I'm committed to doing what
we can in Tennessee, and helping to secure our nation's border is one critical part of that effort."

In July, Tennessee deployed soldiers to Arizona, where they continue to assist the U.S. Border Patrol with reconnaissance, surveillance and aviation.

Enforce prohibitions against employing illegal immigrants

Governor Phil Bredesen today issued an Executive Order to help ensure that all businesses entering into contracts with state government fully comply with prohibitions against employing illegal immigrants.

"It is clear the lure of employment is a
primary factor that attracts illegal immigrants to our country and to our state," Bredesen said. "State law prohibits individuals and businesses in Tennessee from knowingly employing individuals who have illegally entered the United States. That's why
I signed today's Executive Order, which outlines specific steps to ensure that those who do business with the state do not knowingly hire illegal immigrants."

Executive Order No. 41 requires Tennessee's government to spot check the personnel records
of state contractors and issue fines to businesses that employ illegal labor. This move strengthens Public Chapter No. 878, which Bredesen signed in June, to prohibit state contracts for businesses and individuals that knowingly employ illegal labor.